Holocaust Memorial Video Streaming Collection Film Guide Movie: Amnesia Time: 53 minutes in Polish with English subtitles. Theme: Grandson’s Search for the Truth Summary: This film tells the story of Pieter’s search for what happened in his city and by his grandfather. He had never heard of the until he visited the USHMM in Washington, DC, at which point he was eager to return home to explore this event, particularly with his parents. He discovers that his grandfather had been one of the organizers over a rumor that the in building 7/9 had kidnapped and killed Polish children. The film explores the relationship between him and his parents. In conducting his private investigation, he interviews various people in the town who were witnesses to the event and hears their accounts. Many of the witnesses refused to share their memories of the pogrom.

Summary Questions: 1. How did Pieter discover that there had been a pogrom in his hometown of Kielce? 2. What was the date of the ? 3. What did the Poles believe the Jews had done? 4. What kind of weapons did the Poles use against the Jews? 5. What was the police response during the pogrom? 6. What political party was considered responsible for the pogrom? 7. Where did the Poles find the Jews they attacked? 8. Who did the soldiers blame for having to kill the Jews? 9. How many Jews were killed in the Kielce pogrom? 10. How many officers and civilians were charged in the eleven trials that took place?

Reflective Questions: 1. What is the significance that the pogrom occurred in 1946? 2. Why is this movie called Amnesia? 3. How did Pieter’s parents respond to the reasons for the pogrom? 4. How did Pieter’s mother feel about the actions of her father? 5. What were the relationships between the Jews and Poles of Kielce before the war? 6. What was mother’s reaction to the situation in after the war? 7. Why were the Poles of Kielce, who were young during WWII, insensitive to the killing of the Jews? 8. How does mother describe her life with her father after the Pogrom? 9. Explain the professor’s comment, “When you are a witness to victimization, you become a victim yourself.” 10. Why do you think the people of Kielce would say the following: "I've had enough of it, how long can you dwell on it?"

Holocaust Memorial Video Streaming Collection Film Guide

Standards:

Middle School

Subject: Social Studies Strand: SS.6.W: World History Standard 1:SS.6.W.1 – Utilize historical inquiry skills and analytical processes. Benchmark: SS.6.W.1.6 Describe how history transmits culture and heritage and provides models of human character.

High School

Subject: Social Studies Strand: SS.012.G: Geography Standard 2: SS.,912.G.2 Understand physical and cultural characteristics of places. Benchmark: SS.912.G.2.1 Identify the physical characteristics and the human characteristics that define and differentiate regions. Strand: SS.912.W: World History Standard 7:SS.912.W.7 Recognize significant causes, events, figures, and consequences of the Great War period and the impact on worldwide balance of power. Benchmark: SS.912.W.7.5 Describe the rise of authoritarian governments in the , Italy, German and Spain, and analyze the policies and main ideas of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco. Strand: SS.912.S: Sociology Standard 4: SS.912.S.4 Social Groups/Explore the impacts of social groups on individual and group behavior. Benchmark: SS.912.S.4.11 Discuss how humans interact in a variety of social settings. Standard 6 SS.912.S.6: Social Change/Examine the changing nature of society. Benchmark: SS.912.S.6.2 Examine various social influences that can lead to immediate and long-term changes. Standard SS.912.S.8 Benchmark: SS.912.S.8.5 Examine factors that could lead to the breakdown and disruption of an existing community. Benchmark: SS.912.S.8.7 Define propaganda and discuss the methods of propaganda and discuss the methods of propaganda used to influence social behavior. Benchmark: SS.912.S.8.10 Investigate how incorrect communications, such as rumors or gossip, can influence group behaviors. Strand: SS.912.P: Psychology Standard 11 SS.912.P.11:Cognition Domain/Memory

Holocaust Memorial Video Streaming Collection Film Guide Benchmark: SS.912.P.11.10 Discuss the factors influencing how memories are retrieved.

Standard 11 SS.912.P.15: Individual Variations Domain/Emotion

Benchmark: SS.912.P.15.1 Explain the biological and cognitive components of emotion.

*************************************************************************************

With Special Thanks to the Florida Department of Education